Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, could have to contend with states implementing orders that contradict the FCC's new rules on net neutrality. (Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg)

Connecticut moved one step closer to reinstating net neutrality along state lines Friday when Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman cast a tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate.

The measure, passed 18-18 with Wyman breaking the tie, helps preserve an open internet, and enshrines the concept of net neutrality into state statute.

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The push for the legislation came after the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal Obama-era regulations designed to prevent internet service providers from blocking content they disagree with, throttling consumer internet speeds and charging certain content providers more for web access.

Montana, New York, Washington, Oregon and New Jersey are among the states that have passed similar laws to preserve an open internet but when two bills failed to pass legislative committees earlier this year, Connecticut advocates and lawmakers alike were disappointed.

"At the beginning of the year, Senate Democrats said we'd fight for a net neutrality bill in Connecticut, and this evening Democrats delivered on that promise," said state Senator Terry Gerratana, D-New Britain, in a statement. "Our bill [passed Friday] restores the best aspects of true net neutrality and provides the openness and access that our society values."

Without net neutrality, internet providers are able to control which websites and what content appears on the internet and lawmakers argued Friday, it would slow competitors, allow for the providers to block political content they disagree with, and charge companies extra to support their content.

Senate Majority leader Bob Duff, a key proponent of the initiative, said in late March he'd "continue to fight" despite the legislation earlier failure.

"The Trump administration's discarding of net neutrality rules represents a dangerous rollback of consumer protections," Duff said Friday. "Preserving open internet is good for Connecticut's businesses, startups, students and consumers. I am proud that Connecticut is joining other states like Washington and Oregon in leading the fight for a fair, open and accessible internet."